Extended shelf life and bulk transport of perishable organic liquids with low pressure carbon dioxide
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsRichard Hagemeyer, Joseph H. Hotchkiss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Carbon dioxide is dissolved in perishable liquids loaded into pressure vessels that are provided with low carbon dioxide head pressure so as to improve product shelf life, thereby providing options for more economical shipment, as by rail and ocean vessels and for extended transport by truck and to facilitate extended storage of perishable products and to avoid the necessity of multiple treatments for pathogen reduction.
Claims25
A method of extending the useful life a liquid dairy product comprising the steps of:
- (a) filling a bulk container of at least 5000 liter capacity with liquid dairy product mixed with CO2;
- (b) maintaining the liquid dairy product mixed with CO2 in the bulk container for transportation or storage;
- (c) removing the CO2 from the liquid dairy product utilizing a vacuum or negative pressure;
- such that the liquid dairy product does not sustain undesirable biological changes.
A process to inhibit the growth of microorganisms in a liquid dairy product during transportation or storage before final processing comprising:
- (a) adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to the liquid dairy product;
- (b) placing the CO2 enhanced liquid dairy product in a pressure vessel subject to CO2 head pressure sufficient to inhibit growth of microorganisms without subjecting the liquid to undesirable biological changes;
- (c) releasing the CO2 from the liquid dairy product;
- (d) processing the liquid dairy product;
- and
- (e) packaging the processed product for distribution.
A method of transporting and extending the useful life of raw milk comprising the steps of:
- (a) filling a pressure vessel of at least 5000 liter capacity at a first location with raw milk mixed with CO2 at a first location to achieve a CO2 concentration between about 200 and 2400 parts per million;
- (b) maintaining the raw milk mixed with CO2 in the pressure vessel at a CO2 head pressure of at least 68 kPa during transportation by rail or ship to a second location;
- (c) removing the CO2 from the raw milk using a process comprising at least one of agitation, vacuum or negative pressure, all such that the raw milk product does not sustain undesirable biological changes;
- (d) processing the raw milk and packaging the processed product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.